Surgical appliance



Jan. '6, 1953 1.. c. BOOTHE 2,624,339

SURGICAL APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 8, 1951 //V \/E N TOF? f L /T TA 0. BOOTHE N 62 JJW her I' ETTORNE Y Patented Jan. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My, invention relates to surgical appliances; and particularly to a. colostomy belt for use by patients who have undergone colostomy operations.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a colostomy belt adapted to hold a pad of absorbent disposable material in place on the body of the wearer over the colostomy area.

Another object is the provision of a belt which may be easily removed and cleaned for further use.

Still another object is the provision of a colostomy belt which is simple in construction, economical to make and unobjectionable when worn.

My invention possesses other objects and features of value, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said description, and the drawings, as I may adopt variant forms of my invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. l 'is an elevational view showing the colostomy belt of my invention with the pad in place and ready for use. A portion of the figure has been broken away to shorten the view. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View showing the flat sheet, and indicating the fold lines along which the sheet is' folded for 6 use.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of an anchor plate showing sheeting or a rubberized or plastic coated fabric is preferred. The requirements are that the sheet material be moisture resistant and of a character and texture which will be comfortable when worn against the body of the wearer. The pad is conveniently of the type that is composed of layers of absorbent loosely felted sheets preferably treated with a wetting-out agent, and faced on each side with gauze.

The basic unit is a flat long rectangular sheet. In forming the receptacle from the sheet, each of two opposite longitudinal edges 4 of the sheet is first folded over on to the body of the sheet to provide a marginal portion 5 extending the entire length of the sheet. The marginal portion is of a Width sufficient to lend stability to the sheet, and to overlie the marginal edge of the pad and retain it in the receptacle. A substantial area of sheeting is thus left exposed between one form of connection to the belt; and Figs. 4

and 5 are plan views of variant forms of the connecting means. All of the views are shown on a reduced scale.

Broadly, the surgical appliance of my invention comprises a receptacle or envelope for holding a pad of absorbent material to be worn by a patient who has undergone a colostomy operation. The receptacle is formed from -a flat sheet of moisture resistant material substantially rectangular in shape. Opposite marginal edge portions of the sheet are folded in to provide a marginal portion or edge for engaging or retaining the pad; and at each end, a tapered pocket is formed by the folding in of, the folded corners. Means are provided which engage under the folded portions for attachment to a belt.

In terms of greater detail, the surgical appliance of my invention comprises a flat sheet 2 of moisture resistant material folded to form a receptacle for an absorbent pad 3, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The sheet may be selected from a wide range of materials. Hospital the edges 4, as the effective area of the pad of absorbent material. Dashed lines 6 indicate lines of fold. Fig. 2 illustrates a satisfactory proportion of parts. Other convenient dimensions and proportions may be chosen.

At each end, the longitudinally folded sheet is further folded to provide anchor tabs 1. The tabs are preferably formed by folding or turning in toward the longitudinal center line 8, the ends of the folded margins 5 so that they are in reverse symmetry with respect to the center line. The folds occur along the lines [0, which inter-. sect the fold lines 6 at an angle and at a point spaced from the end edge I2 of the sheet. The points of intersection of the fold lines It with the end edge 2 of the sheet are spaced on either side of the longitudinal center line 3, the space between the points of intersection forming the throat of a tapered pocket formed at each end of the receptacle between the overlapping anchor tabs.

In order that the tabs may be secured in their folded position a plurality of fastener elements comprisingthe socket element It and the stud element l5 are fixed to the sheet; and each is located on the sheet in a position such that when the anchor tabs are folded to shape the pocket, the companion elements at each end lie in interengageable alignment. The positional placing of these stud and socket elements are indicated in the sheet; and each pocket provides a snug seat for the engagement of the anchor plate It.

There are preferably two anchor plates provided, one at each end of the receptacle, each being formed from a sheet of moisture resistant material such as one of the sheet plastics, and being somewhat stiffer than the sheet 2. The two opposite edges I! of the plate converge into a rounded end portion or head [8 at one end of the plate. The angle of inclination of the edges to a longitudinal, center line passing through the plate is equal to the angle of inclination of the fold line to the center line 8. This equality insures a uniform distribution of stresses along the entire length of fold it when the anchor plate is inserted in the pocket and engaged by the folds. Preferably, the anchor plates are formed with a restriction or neck 2% between the body of each plate and the head [3. This permits the head to be thrust through the throat for placement of the anchor plate in the receptacle, but prevents the head from falling back through the throat.

The head i8 of each plate is provided with a stud element I9 of preferably the stud and socket type of fastener. A belt 2i carries one companion or socket fastener element 22, at one end and one or more of them at the opposite end. For adjustments to accommodate persons of different size, the belt carries a plurality of fastener elements at one end, leaving it to the users choice to snap on the fastener which will give the greatest comfort.

Other adjustment means may be utilized, such as the one shown in Fig. l, wherein the head of the anchor plate is provided with a slot 23 through which the belt passes, the doubled over end being caught under a clasp 24 of well known type. This construction allows for any amount of adjustment. Another modification is shown in Fig. one end of the belt being secured directly to the head of the anchor plate by the application of heat and pressure to the head of the plate. With this construction, adjustments are made at the other end of the belt by a plurality of fasteners or other suitable means.

The main unit 2 of my colostomy belt is constructed conveniently from sheet material such as hospital sheeting of the proper weight and of a width having selvage edges 4. The end edges l2 result from cutting lengths from the long piece and need not be finished. The lines E of proper folding to provide the right width of margin 5 are preferably indicated on the sheet by an inch or two of dots 26 which can be readily printed in the same operation when the fasteners are applied and the long piece cut to length. The fold lines It need not be indicated since they fall in the correct places when the fastener elements I4 and is are snapped together.

I claim:

1. A surgical appliance constituting a receptacle for a pad of absorbent material and comprising a sheet of moisture resistant material, opposite longitudinal edges of the sheet being folded over to form opposite sides of the receptacle, an anchor tab folded from each corner of the longitudinally folded sheet to form tapered pockets constituting opposite ends of the receptacle, interengageable fastener elements fixed to the sheet and within the areas of the unfolded tabs and arranged to lie in interengaging alignment when the tabs are folded, an anchor plate engaged in each of said tapered pockets when formed, and a belt releasably connecting the anchor plates.

2. A surgical appliance constituting a receptacle for a pad of absorbent material and comprising a sheet of moisture resistant material folded to form the receptacle, fastener elements fixed adjacent edges of the sheet and lying in interengaging alignment in the folded condition of the sheet forming said receptacle, a belt, means securing one end of the belt to one end of the folded sheet forming the receptacle, and means securing the opposite end of the belt to the opposite end of the folded sheet forming the receptacle including a stiff anchor plate of solid and non-absorbent material detachably engaging the receptacle in one of its folded ends.

3. A surgical appliance constituting a receptacle for a pad of absorbent material and comprising a sheet of moisture resistant material folded to form the receptacle, fastener elements fixed adjacent edges of the sheet and lying in interengaging alignment in the folded condition of the sheet forming said receptacle, a wedgeshaped anchor plate detachably engaging the receptacle at each folded end thereof, and a belt connected at its opposite ends tosaid anchor plates at the opposite ends of said receptacle.

4. A surgical appliance constituting a receptacle for a pad of absorbent material and comprising a sheet of. moisture resistant material folded to form the receptacle, fastener elements fixed adjacent edges of the sheet and lyingin interengaging alignment in the folded condition of the sheet forming said receptacle, an anchor plate having an enlarged area detachably engaging the receptacle within each folded end thereof and with a more restricted area extend ing therebeyond, and a belt connected ati-ts opposite ends to said anchor plates at the opposite ends of said receptacle.

5. A surgical appliance constituting a recep- I LITTA C. BOOTHE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,975,618 Raskin Oct. 2, 1934 2,117,621 Mills May 17, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 738,094 France Oct. 11, 1932 

